Grating



Jan.A 8, 1929.

H. H. BUNKER GRATING Filed Jam/4, 1924 v// Wf/'f ATTORNEYS Patented dan, 8, 1929.

lst rie HERBERT H'. BUNKER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

Gramians.Y

Application med January 4, 1924. seriai No. 684,334.

This invention relates to gratings suchv nection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a grating embodying my invention. 1 l

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1. l

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a view similar tothat of Figure 4 showing a quantity of cementor other similar material moulded into the several spacing units. i y

Figure 6 is a view lsimilar to that of Figure 4 showing the manner of` inserting and securing a plurality of glass' or othertrans- .parent blocks positioned within the several spacing units. Y,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the spacing units shown 'in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a more or less diagrammatic view illustrating the method vof locking to each other the severall spacing units shown in Figure 1.`

VReferring toFigures 1, 2, 7 and 8of the drawings wherein is shown what I at present consider the preferred form of my invention the numeral 5 indicates a grating comprising a plurality of spacing units or elements 6 coupled together and locked in their respective assembled positions in a manner hereinafter more particularly described. These units are preferably constructed from relatively heavy sheet metal and are bent' into U-shaped members having bases 7 carryingat opposite ends thereof legs 8 to which are connected and preferably formed integral therewith a pair of tongues or lockingk members 9.. These tongues, as will be noted from Figure 7, are

so formedthat their outer ends arel of a width appreciably greater than the width of the tongues at their juncture with their respective legs 8. The base 7 of each of the units 6 is provided with a pair of openings 10 formed adjacent the legs 8 in proximity totheir respective points of connectionrwith the base. These openings are each of ,a width substantially equa-l to twice the thickness of thetongues 9 and are so formed that if ithe tongues 9 will enter the openings only O when the units are so positionedwith respectto each other that the tongues 9 assume inclined positions or are disposed diagonally with respect to the openings 10 as will'v be appreciated from an inspection of Figure 8. The grating is built up byr linking the several spacing elements 6 together as shown particularly in Figure 1. Aftery the elementshave been assembled as shown,

they are keyed together in an assembled relation as a .unitary ystructure by means of longitudinally disposed parallel bars 11 whichare passed through the several openings 10 in the space afforded adjacent the `iit of the several bars 1'1 is aforded with respect to the spacing elements 6. It will be further appreciated that such a fit between the bars-11 and the several spacing elements G will result in the retention of the several spacing elements in their respective proper positions within a common plane. As above mentioned it is necessary, in assembling the several spacing elements, to so position them with respect to each other that thetonguesy 9 enter the openings 10 diagonally, such inclination being necessary for the reasonthat the outer ends of the tongues 9 are somewhatwider than the openings 10 are long. Once the tongues have been inserted into their respectiveopenings 10 and the several longitudinal bars have been properlyl positioned, it becomes impossible to withdraw the tongues 9 since they are held in their respective vertical positionspwithin the openings by the longitudinal bars and are preventedfrom becoming dislodged due to the fact that they are keyed or locked against such displacement by reason of the fact that "several tongues 9. These bars are of the same or'substantially the same thickness as each ytongue at its outer end is of a width greater than the length of the opening Within which the same is positioned. In order to further restrain the several spacing members 6 against relative movement either lon-` gitudinally or otherwise With respect to each other the longitudinally disposed parallel bars 11 may be bent over at corresponding ends as shown at 12 and into intimate enoutlying spacing element 6 may be equal inrWidth' to the remaining openings which are, as above mentioned7 equal in Width to twice the thickness of the single longitudinal bar 11,- but if desired in practice the outermost openings 10 of theY outlying spacingV elements 6 may be equal in Width to the thickness of a single'bar inasmuch as these outermost openings are required to receive only the outermost of the longitudinally disposed bars 11. y

Referring now to the modified form of my invention shown in Figures 3, 4t, 5 and 6', the numeral 15 indicates, as a Whole, a grating comprising a plurality of preferably square tubular elements 16,4 each of Which is provided upon opposite sides with aligned openings 17 adapted for the reception of longi tudinally disposed parallel bars 18. In assembling this modifiedV form of grating the tubular spacing elements 16 are threaded upon longitudinally disposed parallel bars 18, the bars 18 being adapted to snugly fit the openings 17. After assembling` the several units the same may be Vdrawn into a more intimate relation by bending over or upsetting corresponding ends 19 of the longitudinally disposed bars 18 into engagement with the spacing elements that are carried upon the extreme ends of the bars.

In the event it is desired to mould a quantity of cement 20 into the several elements 16 as Well as into the space afforded between these elements the spacing elements may be provided with openings 21 adapted for the reception of relatively short keying pins 22. These keying pins are of such lengths that the ends 28 thereof project into the spaces afforded between adjacent spacing elements 16 and become embedded into thel concrete or cement 2O When the same is poured into the openings afforded between the adjacent spacing element-s 16 Whereas the main or body portions 24 of the pins become embedded into the concrete or cement which is moulded into and fills the several spacing elements 16- It Will be appreciated that the pins 22 so arrangedk provide an adequate support or keying means for the concrete, and being so keyed the concrete or cement functions, upon becoming set or hardened,

to lend rigidityand strength to theY grating.k

in its entirety. A

In 'the event itis desired to insert such light transmitting elements as glass or other transparent blocks 25 into the several spacing elements 16 the longitudinal edges of the longitudinally disposed bars 18 may be utilized'as supports or seats for such blocks. These Vblocks as is customary may be secured in their respective positions by means of a suitable cement 26 applied asv shown lin. Figure 6. y i

By employing the'novel forms ofspacing elements herein 'described I am enabled to effectively unite or lock them together by means of the longitudinally disposed 4bars hereinbefore described in'such a manner as to form a unitary structure which is reinforcedV throughout its entire area againstl any strain, stress or impact which may be exerted thereupon or applied'thereto at any given point. Such distribution of' force is accounted for, as Will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains, by reason of the fac-t that the several spacing elements and longitudinal bars When united in accordance with my invention present a structure in which the component elements thereof are in effect integrally united. From an inspection of the structural units herein described itivill be appreciated that the spacing elements function in effect also as transverselydisn posed bars or reinforcing members arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal bars and also in effect as longitudinal stiffeners or reinforcing members cooperating vvithVV the longitudinally disposed bars herein described to lend further strength and rigidityv to the structure in its entirety. V

lVhile I have shown and described what I at present consider the preferred forms of my invention, it will be understood that variliti llU

ous changes in the size, arrangement and dimension ofthe component elements thereof may be changed Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe sub-joined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim: f

1. A grating comprising a plurality of spacing elements, each element having' openings formed therein and being provided With a plurality of. locking members, lsaid elements being so arranged in the grating that said locking members on vone element project into the openings of the adjacent elements'.

2. A grating comp-rising a plurality of spacing elements, each element having openings formed therein and being provided With a plurality of locking members, said elements being so arranged in the grating that said locking members on one element project into the openings ofthe adjacent elements, and additional means for locking said elements together in a unitary structure.

3. A grating comprising a plurality of spacing elements, each eleinenthaving openings formed therein and being provided with a plurality of locking members, said elements being so arranged in the grating,

project into the openings oit' the adjacent elements, and means for locking said elements together in a unitary structure, said means being in the form of tying members passing through said openings and maintained in engagement With said locking members.

5. A grating comprising a plurality of spacing elements, each element having openings Jformed, therein and being providedwith a plurality of locking members, said elements being so arranged in the grating that said locking members on one element project into the openings of the adjacent elements, and tying members passing through said openings, said tying members being distorted at corresponding ends to retain said spacing elements against movement with respect to each other and with respect to said tying members.

6. A grating comprising a plurality of spacing elements .having openings formed therein, said spacing elements arranged in rows, the spacing element of one row having means to interlock With cooperating means on the spacing elements ofthe tvvo adjacent rows, and means for tying the spacinO elements together.

A grating comprising a plurality of spacing elements arranged in rows, openings formed therein, each elementbeing provided With locking members adapted to project into the openings of the element in the v adjacent froW, and means v:tor holding the llocking member of one elementv into engagement'with the adjacent element. l

8. A grating comprising a plurality of spacing elements, each element having an opening formed thereinand having a. locking member received Within` the opening inv an adjacent member and additional means for' locking said elements together, said means being in the form of tying members passingthrougli openings in a plurality of I said elements and maintained inVengagement With said locking members.

9. A grating comprising a plurality of U- shaped spacing elements, each element having openings ormedtherein, the ends of said elements adapted' to project into ,the

opening of the adjacent element,v and means Jfor locking said elements together in a unitary structure.

l0. A grating comprising a plurality of- U-shaped spacing elements having openingsk formed therein, locking elements on the ends of said U, said elements being so arranged that the locking members on one element sol project into the openings of the adjacent ele- 'j ments, and tying members passing through the openings of said elements to lock the elements togethervin a unitary structure.Y v

In testimony whereof, I have aiiiXed my signature to this specilic'ation. 'y

HERBERT H. BUN KER. 

